UPDATE 1-Syntax-Brillian files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

(Adds details from court documents, background)

By Pratish Narayanan

BANGALORE, July 8 (Reuters) - U.S. television set and digital camera maker Syntax-Brillian Corp BRLC.O filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday after a year of weak sales, litigation, executive changes, accounting problems and liquidity concerns.

The seller of the Olevia brand of LCD TVs, formed with the November 30, 2005 merger of Syntax Groups and Brillian Corp, sought protection from creditors with the U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware, court papers show.

Tempe, Arizona-based Syntax-Brillian also entered into a deal to sell certain of its assets to a newly created company called Olevia International Group LLC, which has agreed to assume $60 million of its secured debt.

The company, which is negotiating with lenders to secure financing, has stopped operations in Tempe and is left with about eight employees there, including its finance chief, general counsel and finance staff.

Court papers listed home appliance maker Taiwan Kolin Co (1606.TW: Quote, Profile, Research) and affiliates as the only entity owning more than 5 percent of Syntax-Brillian's voting shares.

Among its creditors are Singapore-based WesTech Electronics Ltd (WTEH.SI: Quote, Profile, Research), Taiwan's Compal Electronics (2324.TW: Quote, Profile, Research), cable sports network ESPN Inc and Taiwan's Digimedia Technology Co.

Syntax-Brillian's total assets were about $175.7 million, against total debts of about $259.4 million, as of the beginning of June this year, court papers showed.